2 research outputs found
Enhancing Soil Productivity in Ghana through the Use of Leguminous Cover Crops and Tillage Practices
Soil fertility in Ghana is low and rapidly declining due to inappropriate soil management practices. This review examines the role of leguminous cover crops and tillage practices in building and sustaining the fertility of soils for enhanced productivity. A trial in the forest zone of Ghana evaluated the effect of two main tillage practices {minimum (MT); full tillage (FT)} and 4 cropping systems; maize/mucuna + 30-20-20kg N-P2O5K2O ha-1(MMF1), maize/pigeon pea + 30-20-20 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1 (MPF1), maize/cowpea + 30-20-20 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1(MCF1), sole maize + 60-40-40 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1(SMF2), sole maize + 30-20-20 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1(SMF1). After 4 years of continuous cultivation, MPF1 under MT (3.41t ha-1) and FT (3.45 t ha-1) gave the highest maize yield. SMF1 (0.48 t ha-1) gave the lowest grain yield. A separate trial in the forest zone on a 5o slope showed that FT with sole maize and removal of maize stover resulted in significant soil lost (4.61t ha-1) and low maize yield. (2.33 t ha-1). FT under maize/cowpea rotation and incorporation of maize and cowpea stover, soil lost was significantly low (0.75 t ha-1) with higher grain yield (4.23 t ha-1). Low soil lost (0.37 t ha-1) and high grain yield (4.34 t ha-1) was also obtained under MT with maize/cowpea rotation with plant residue used as mulch. MT under sole maize with maize stover as mulch gave very low soil lost (0.27 t ha-1) but maize yield was also low (2.4 t ha-1). At Nyankpala after a two year callopogonium fallow maize was grown in the third year. MT with residue applied as mulch gave similar maize grain yield (4.1 t ha-1) as FT and residue removed with application of 40 kg N ha-1 (4.6 t ha-1). In the Savanna zone, mucuna was intercropped with maize at three different stages. Maize grain yield was significantly higher for the control in the first year but the least in the third year. Maize yield was highest at 6 WAP in the third year. Inclusion of appropriate leguminous crops in cropping systems in Ghana with incorporation of plant residue or as mulch is recommended. Minimum tillage in combination with leguminous crops will minimize soil erosion and improve crop yields. These good options need scaling up for the improvement of soil productivity
Yield potentials of improved rice varieties for increased lowland rice production within the mankran watershed in Ghana
Rice production in Ghana is limited by low varietal choices, which puts farmers at a disadvantage in meeting the market demand for consumers. The objectives of this study were to (i) assess the yield potentials of improved rice varieties developed by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), and (ii) to allow farmers to select improved varieties of their choice based on growth and yield, as observed in the field, in order to ensure a high adoption rate, increase productivity and food security. Two seasons (i.e. 2020 major and 2020–2021 minor) field experiments were conducted at two lowland within the Mankran watershed in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The experiment comprised thirteen (13) improved varieties and two local checks and was conducted using recommended good agronomic practices. The key findings of the study showed that growth and yield parameters vary significantly between varieties across locations. The biplot analysis showed that varieties FARO 66, SAHEL 317, and Amankwatia are the best in the major season while WITA 9, GT 11, ARS-957-BGJ-171-15-D-B, NERICA L36, and AGRA were the best in the minor season at both locations. Farmers’ preference for the varieties was based not only on growth and yield but on resistance to lodging, pests, and diseases. In conclusion, the best performing varieties have demonstrated yield potential which is about 92% higher than the yield of the local checks and can be recommended for adoption by farmers. Future breeding programs on these varieties should include the most preferred attributes by farmers in this study